Buttermark family's golf ties run deep on Staten Island

July was noted as “Family Golf Month” by the USGA, the MGA, the PGA and just about every other golf organization across the country.

Golf course operators are adapting yardage and placing tee markers close enough to the greens to encourage players of all ages to enjoy a round together as a family.

Family golf is nothing new to Staten Island and it’s hard to find families with just one player in the family. They may not all play a round together, as is suggested today, but golf is the topic of conversation at many dinner tables.

We can’t help but think of the Buttermark family as the perfect example of a golfing family.

Mary and Louis L. Buttermark of Richmond County Country Club will celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary in November. They have been active in the game for most of that time. The Buttermark children, sons Louis Jr., Paul and David, as well as daughters, Jill and Kim, have been swinging clubs since they were old enough to wrap their hands around a grip.

We can’t tell you how many rounds they actually played together, but we can tell you that they have all been successful in winning tournaments.

Lou Buttermark, the patriarch, who has shot his age or better more than anyone we know, has been a winner of the annual Parent/ Child tournament on many occasions partnering with most of his offspring in addition to many tournament victories on his own.

The tradition goes on in the Buttermark family to include grandchildren.

Lou Jr. and Debra have son James and daughter Alyssa carrying on the family name.

James is the current Staten Island Amateur champion and is also a standout on the Rider University golf team, and younger sister Alyssa is a member of the St. Joseph by-the-Sea golf team.

The recent club championship rounds at the RCCC tell the story.

Lou Jr. defeated his son James for the title in the championship flight. James won the prestigious Hunter medal with the low qualifying score of 1-under-par 141 for 36 holes.

At the same time, it was daughter Kim, winner of the recent SIWGA Classic, who took the RCCC Women’s championship by stopping Mary Gormley.

Lou Sr. went to sudden death but failed to make the Buttermark “Hat Trick” losing to Peter Soloway in the A flight on the first extra hole.

SOUTH SHORE SURPRISE

The operators of the South Shore Restaurant are scheduled and prepared to close down their operation today — including the snack bar — as per their contract with the Department of Parks.

But Tara Kiernan, of the Office of Public Affairs (parks department), is saying it’s not entirely true.

“The South Shore Snack Bar will remain open throughout the season in order to accommodate the golfers,” she said. “Parks expects to have a new operator in the facility in the coming months.”

BUNKER BITS

The Staten Island Amateur will kick off at RCCC on Tuesday with each member of the field trying for one of the16 spots that will get them into match play.

The pairings will be published in tomorrow’s Advance.

Bob Britton, six-time winner of the Amateur, will be absent from the field since he failed to file an entry for the public course qualifying in time.

The Carter Cup, for 39 junior golfers who have earned an invitation through their accomplishments, will be held at Baltusrol G.C. in Springfield, N.J. on Wednesday.

Local player Sean Kelly, who is University of South Carolina-bound, and Steven Pedersen Jr. will be in the field for the grueling 36-hole test.

Kelly will be playing for the fourth time, while Pedersen, a high school junior who has already committed to the West Point Academy golf team, will be making his second appearance in the prestigious event.

On the pro tour, Bill Britton is playing as well as ever in the Senior Open in Toledo, Ohio, with opening rounds of 70-74.

Anthony Aruta has qualified for the MGA’s Met Open at Sleepy Hollow on August 23-25.

WRITERS’ HOLIDAY

The Met Golf Writers were once again treated to the Forsgate Country Club in Jamesburg, N.J. for the annual “Writer Cup” event where the golf scribes from New York and Connecticut compete against the New Jersey/ Philadelphia writers.

Once again the NJ/Philadelphia team was victorious in the scoring department.

Suzy Abrams Jones of RDC Golf and staff, as well as the Forgate folks did their usual excellent job in promoting the full-field event with all the trimmings.

OUTINGS

The third annual Lanigan Outing will take place on Aug. 15 at the Silver Lake course with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

The $175 entry fee will include all refreshments on the course prior to dinner from 2-6 p.m. at the Staten Island LL.